Fifth seed Ugo Humbert produced a near-flawless performance to outclass Kazakh Alexander Bublik 6-4, 6-3 and capture the Dubai Open tennis title on Saturday for his second trophy this season.

By lifting the title, the 25-year-old Frenchman became only the third player in the professional era to win his first six tour-level finals, matching the achievement of Latvia’s Ernests Gulbis and Slovakia’s Martin Klizan.

The in-form Marseille champion edged a tight opening set when seventh seed Bublik fired a double fault in the 10th game as he chanced his arm and attempted a big second serve in a desperate attempt to hold.

Left-hander Humbert, who took out top seed and Australian Open runner-up Daniil Medvedev in the semi-final, showcased his superb defensive skills to earn a chance to break in the next set and pounced for a 3-1 lead when Bublik found the net.

He unleashed a monster forehand to go 5-2 up before holding his nerve two games later to save a breakpoint and close out the contest on his second championship point with a passing winner.

Humbert defeated Medvedev 7-5, 6-3 on Friday to reach his second tour-level final of the season.

After the match Medvedev said it was not a question of feeling the pressure – but a lack of energy.

“I think it’s for different reasons,” he told reporters. “I think I know a few of them. One would be the injury before the tournament. I didn’t have much practice. Before the week when I came, I couldn’t serve. The only day I could start to serve was the day before the tournament. As you saw, my serve was not my biggest weapon in this tournament.”

He added: “I just hope that the next few weeks… I’m going to Indian Wells maybe
tomorrow... I can bring more energy on the court and be a bit tougher.”